William Anders, the Apollo 8 astronaut known for capturing one of the most iconic images of Earth and the Moon, tragically died [1] on Friday in a plane crash in Washington state. The vintage Air Force T-34 Mentor, piloted solely by Anders, crashed before noon near Jones Island.
In 1968, during the Apollo 8 mission Anders ventured to the Moon’s threshold, enabling us to see our own planet in a new light. He represented the essence and goal of exploration. “We will miss him,” remarked NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
Footage captured moments before the crash showed the 90-year-old pilot performing maneuvers but failing to pull out of a dive, resulting in the crash into the water. The alleged video, posted to X, is difficult to watch:
🚨#BREAKING [2]: Former NASA astronaut William Anders who took the famous Earthrise photo during Apollo 8 has died from a plane crash accident
⁰📌#Seattle [3] | #Washington [4]Watch terrifying footage from earlier this evening as witnesses captured the moment a small T-34 Mentor plane… pic.twitter.com/xF2i8arA0u [5]
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) June 8, 2024 [6]
Alongside Anders on Apollo 8 were astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell, in the first manned mission to orbit the Moon. The crew made ten orbits without landing, during which Anders took the famous “Earthrise” photograph. During the spacecraft’s rotation, Anders captured the iconic image of Earth rising over the Moon’s horizon. This moment was commemorated by the International Astronomical Union in 2018 with the naming of the “Anders’ Earthrise” crater.
James Lovell remains the last living member of the Apollo 8 crew. Authorities plan to recover the remains of Anders’ plane for investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Weather conditions were not deemed a factor in the crash, with winds under 15 mph and clear skies.
Anders, a veteran of the United States Air Force, had accumulated thousands of flight hours and founded the Heritage Flight Museum in Burlington, Washington, showcasing vintage aircraft similar to the one he flew on Friday. The museum posted on Facebook, “Heritage Flight Museum is deeply saddened to confirm that one of our Founders, Bill Anders, was killed in an aircraft accident. The museum will be closed until further notice. Please respect our need to grieve the passing of a great father and great pilot.”